Astana Expo City architects win top AIA award for design innovation
A major leisure project has been honoured in the Stellar Design category at the American Institute of Architecture’s (AIA) annual celebration of innovation in architecture.
The Technology in Architectural Practice (TAP) Innovation Awards honour designers and researchers who have created new practices and technologies to improve the construction and maintenance of buildings.
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture won the design prize for their masterplan of Astana Expo City 2017, which is currently under construction. The concept of the expo, and the host city’s design, is ‘Future Energy,’ and the architects impressed the TAP judges for their commitment to finding ways to achieve qualitative changes in the energy sector, primarily for the development of alternative sources of energy and transportation.
Buildings in Astana will integrate high-performance glazing; energy piles that will reduce energy demand and provide temperature modulation during winter; emergency energy storage; and rainwater harvesting. Around 90 per cent of waste generated on site will be diverted from landfill.
"This project is innovative in energy and resource conservation,” commented the jury. “Design indicators show the complexity of this project from interoperability, optimisation of form, and performance.
“Workflow analysis, performance metrics and long term outlook – as demonstrated here – are the way we should work everyday. There is impressive use and integration of a number of technologies by a very large team to deliver a quality project in a short amount of time.”
An honourable mention was given to Cunningham Group for their design of Deep Space; the world’s largest sub-surface auditorium. The 11,400-seat underground event space is located on the Epic Systems Corporation campus in Wisconsin. It was created below the surface of the earth to preserve expansive pastoral views of the surrounding landscape. The six-acre green roof covers six acres and the project was built in just 29 months.
Astana Expo City AIA TAP Innovation Awards energy environment architecture design Kazakstan Expo Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture'A higher standard of architectural design': Construction begins on Kazakhstan's sustainable Expo City
AHR gets the go-ahead for phase one of Kazakhstan 2017 Expo
OMA completes New Museum transformation with landmark expansion and Oberon restaurant
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance, hospitality and public programming. The latest addition, Oberon, extends the visitor experience beyond the gallery, reflecting a growing trend for museums to become all-day destinations.
The New Museum in New York has entered a new chapter with the completion of a major
David Rockwell creates immersive magic destination, The Hand and The Eye
Montana Heritage Center by Cushing Terrell opens after US$107 million investment
Universal launches new theme park model with Kids Resort
'Minor wellness hotels' recorded the strongest growth across top KPIs in 2025, finds RLA Global
Great Barrier Reef attraction set for AU$180 million reinvention
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, has architecture by Leach Rhodes Walker and interiors by Bergman Design House.
Marriott International partners with Fitwel for wellness solutions across its residential portfolio
Preidlhof Luxury DolceVita Resort to unveil new spa in February 2027
Places Leisure is working with Roberts Limbrick to build £60m wellness flagship in Basingstoke
Hoshino Resorts opens Kai Kusatsu as it expands the Kai onsen ryokan brand
Qiddiya and Populous share details of Saudi Arabia’s National Tennis Centre
Disney confirms US$30 billion investment programme as it highlights its economic impact
Until combines multiple disciplines at new Canary Wharf club
Sea Lanes opens following a partnership between The Eden Project and Canary Wharf Group
Bas Smets brings water and wilderness to Vitra
Expo 2030 Riyadh will create a permanent global destination
Luxury resort coming to Hunter Valley will have longevity spa
'Data chocolate', dreams made real and artworks shaped by visitors’ emotions: Refik Anadol’s AI art museum launches in Los Angeles
London Museum reveals 2026 opening date for new Smithfield home
BIG unveils Eve Music Hall as Croatia venue nears completion
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Palazzo di Varignana launches family wellbeing and longevity retreat in Emilia Romagna
Anasa Wellness and Spa debuts at Patmos Aktis as it joins Marriott
Design-led Koru Health Club combines high-performance training with recovery
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
The attraction has transformed the aquarium’s Phelps Auditorium into a multi-sensory venue combining panoramic projection, environmental effects and interactive technology.
A new pre-show area allows visitors to engage with augmented reality marine animals before entering the




















